Category: Peadar Tóibín

Sinn Féin TD for Meath West, Peadar Tóibín TD, has welcomed the introduction of a Bill seeking a fixed Commemoration Day for the famine. However, An Teachta Tóibín has expressed disappointment that Fine Gael cynically introduced it’s bill in a reluctant response to the similar Sinn Féin Bill introduced a few weeks ago.

Deputy Tóibín said:

“I welcome that this Bill will be introduced. It is shocking that, in response to a recent PQ that I submitted, we have learned that the Government still have not selected the day for this year, 2017, in which we will commemorate the Famine.

“Each year, citizens and community groups around the world seek to organise commemorative events to pay tribute and remember the most significant time of our nation’s history. They are frustrated by the Government’s inability to select the date in a neither fixed nor timely fashion.

“Currently, the commemoration date swings from between May to September each year meaning that planning and preparation, especially for those overseas is particularly difficult. This Bill will place the Famine Memorial Day on the second Sunday of May, the same date as was proposed by the Sinn Féin Bill.

“It is undoubtedly a positive development that the famine receives appropriate commemoration. It is, by far, the single most difficult and influential period of our history. I do believe it is enormously cynical that the government could not work with an opposition Bill but sought to replicate a Sinn Féin Bill for the purpose of having their own finger prints on the initiative.

“Regardless of this political shimmying, Sinn Féin is very supportive of the introduction of the Famine Commemoration Day Bill and the end to the annual certainty over the date of commemoration.”

Another attack on the Irish language by the government – Peadar Tóibín TD

Sinn Féin’s Peadar Tóibín TD has said that the decision to get rid of the Irish language requirement for senior librarians was very disappointing indeed. Teachta Tóibín said that this was the second attack on library services in the past few months following on from the introduction of ‘staffless libraries’.

An Teachta Tóibín said: “I was very disappointed to hear that the Irish language requirement for senior librarians was being removed. This is a big step backwards – this was the last Irish language provision in the recruitment of employees in the state system. It marks a deterioration in the services for Irish speakers and Irish language learners throughout the country.

“In many districts in this state, it is senior librarians that accept the responsibilities of Irish Language Officer in their council. Regrettably, this is not a full time role in certain parts of the country. There is now a danger that councils will not be able to adequately fulfil their duties with the introduction of these new rules, as they will not be able to find suitable part-time officers.

“These rules follow-on from the ‘staffless libraries’ scheme as recently introduced by the government. This has been sold to us as a progressive measure – but in reality it diminishes the importance of the librarian’s role as gatekeeper of knowledge and enabler of learning.

“It appears that there is every chance now that there won’t be an appropriate person in charge of libraries during the weekends – and no-one with Irish available during the week. This is another knock for Irish and for public services.

“Libraries have a central role in civic life – they do not exist for the provision of books alone – but they act a public space in which lectures are given, exhibitions displayed, and information shared. There is no doubt but that the decision to get rid of this Irish language requirement will hinder the ability to achieve the aims of the ’20 Year Strategy.

“We are also concerned about libraries in the Gaeltacht as to whether Irish language requirements have been removed from the recruitment of librarians. I’m asking the Minister to reverse his decision with immediate effect.” CRÍOCH